Online gambling is a growing business. It’s legal to play real-money games at regulated casinos and in states where they’re offered, and it’s also possible to place wagers on sports events and other activities. While some people might still worry about the safety of internet gambling, it’s important to know that most online games are fair and transparent. Moreover, a reputable gaming operator will be licensed and audited by a third-party auditor to ensure that all winnings are paid out as promised.
There are several major legal issues that impact whether or not you can gamble online legally in the United States, but most of these concerns have been resolved by state-level lawmakers. State-level regulators have pushed to approve new types of online gaming, and federal laws are slowly changing to open up the market.
The first big hurdle was PASPA, which was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2018, and it allowed individual states to pass their own laws allowing sports betting. This opened the door for a number of states to offer sports betting online, and it has paved the way for other forms of online gambling as well.
New Jersey, Delaware and Nevada became the first states to allow online casino games and poker sites in 2013, and more states have since followed suit. Many have enacted their own regulations to establish licensing, minimum age requirements and other key factors for legal online gambling. However, some major federal statutes remain in place as barriers to expanding online gambling in the United States, including the Wire Act of 1961 and UIGEA.
Thankfully, the majority of these laws have been changed or interpreted in recent years to remove some of the obstacles that existed before. The reinterpretation of the Wire Act in 2011 opened the door for other types of gambling, including lottery games and horse racing, to be legalized across state lines. It also removed the prohibition on accepting sports bets over the phone, which had been a major obstacle to expanding legal gambling in the United States.
Some states have also amended UIGEA to make it easier for financial institutions to process payments to online gambling operators. This has made it much easier for players to fund their accounts and get started playing for real money. Moreover, the UIGEA amendments have lowered the minimum age requirement for those who wish to gamble in casinos and other licensed establishments.
The biggest benefit of legal online casinos is that they are accessible to anyone in the world, not just those who live near a brick-and-mortar casino. This means that more people have the opportunity to gamble and win a lot of money. This is especially helpful for those who are on a limited budget, as they can play for smaller stakes than would be available in brick-and-mortar establishments. In addition, there are no lengthy lag times between hands, decisions, or spins, as is sometimes the case in brick-and-mortar casinos.